Connecter



Nov. 9, 1937. BENANDER 2,098,800

CONNECTER Filed Oct. 16, 1935 Inventor: George BBenander,

s Attorney.

Patented Nov. 9, 1937 PATENT OFFICE CONNECTER George B. Benander, Yalesviile, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation oi New York Application October 16, 1935, Serial No. 45.226

Claims.

My invention relates to connecters and more particularly to plugs adapted for use with a heating device.

An object of my invention is to provide an 6 improved connecter of simple construction which may be readily assembled and is of low cost of manuiacture.

What I consider to be novel and my invention will be better understood by reference to the following specification and appended claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my connecter; Fig. 2 is a plan'view of the connecter with one of the body members re-. 1' moved; and Fig. 3 is a side view cut away to show the switch in the closed position; and Fig. 4 is a detail view of the switch mecha-= nism.

Referring to the drawing, It indicates my improved connecter with two complementary body members II and I2. Extending from one side of'the connecter l0 at an angle thereto is a strain relief spring l3 through which the cord connected to the connecter is adapted to pass.

- Since the strain relief I3 extends from the side of the connecter Ill, it is impossible for the plug to be removed merely by pulling on the cord. This method of removing the plug has been a source of many of the failures of plugs as the cords frequently are broken at the point of pasmay be connected a switch ll is provided. As

better indicated in Fig. 2, switch It is located at the top of the connecter l0 and is mounted in the body member ll. Switch I4 is provided with a rocker operating handle l5 and is secured in position in body member II by means of a screw I6 which is threaded intoa metal insert ll molded in the body member In order to secure the operating mechanism of the switch -|l in position a plate I8 is provided with angularly extending legs l9 and 20 which seat in slots-provided in the complementary body members II and I2. A combined movable switch contact and operating member 2| is provided of U-shape with its free ends journaled in bearings 22 and23 integral with plate l8. .A compresslon spring 24 is loca ed between member 2| and operating handle IS. A stationary contact 25 is secured in member II by means of a screw 26 which may be threaded into a metal insert molded in the member A binding screw 21 is threaded into contact 25 for connecting one of the conductors of the cord to the connecter. A second stationary contact member 28 is provided and secured to a contact clip 29 by means of ears 30 turned down over side flanges of the contact clip 29. Contact 28 and contact clip 29 are secured in member II by means of a screw 3|. A second contact clip 32 is loosely located inposition in member II and is provided with a binding screw 33 which is adapted to connect the other conductor of the cord to the connecter III. In Fig. 2, the switch It is shown in the open position. To move the switch to the closed position, the projecting portion of rocker I5 is depressed to the position indicated in Fig. 3'where it is stopped by engagement with one of the angular legs of plate It. This movement oi. operating handle l5 compresses spring 24 and moves it over the center line of the switch moving the operating member 2| to the opposite position in engagement with the stationary contacts 25 and 28. This completes the-electrical connection from contact 25 through contact 28 to the contact clip 29.

In the assembly of the connecter III, the operating member is located in position with its ends in the bearings 22 and 23 of plate l8. Plate l8 isthen placed in position with its angularly extending arms l9 and 20 in the slots provided in member Operating handle I5 is then secured in position by means of screw I6. Spring 24 is next placed in position between the operating handle I5'and operating member 2|. The contact 28 and contact clip 29 after being connected together are secured in position in member II by means of screw 2|. Contact 25 is then secured in position by means of screw 26. Contact clip 32 and strain relief spring l3 are then located loosely in position in member ll. Member I2 is then placed over mem'ber II and secured to it by means of a bolt 34 and a ring 25. Ring 35 fits over boss 36 formed on the side of members II and I2.

From the foregoing, it may be seen that an improved connecter is provided consisting of a minimum number of parts which may be manufactured at a low cost' and assembled with facility.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electric connecter comprising two com- 55 plementary body members, a contact clip loosely mounted in said body members, a second contact clip and a stationary contact connected together and secured in one of said body members, a second stationary contact secured to one of said body members, a switch plate with angularly depending legs loosely mounted in said body members, a U-shaped switch contact journaled in depending bearings from said plate and adapted to bridge said stationary-contacts, an operating handle secured at the top to one of said body members, and a spring interconnectingt said operating handle and said switch con- 2. An electric connecter comprising two complementary body members of insulating material,

contact clips located in said body members, a

stationary contact connected to one of said contact clips, a second stationary contact, a switch plate with angularly depending legs loosely mounted in said body members, a switch contact journaled in depending bearings of said plate and adapted to bridge said stationarycontacts, a rocker secured and pivoted by a screw threaded in one of said body members, and a spring interconnecting said switch contact and said rocker.

3. An electric connecter comprising two complementary body members of insulating material, a contact clip loosely located in said body members, a second contact clip, a stationary contact connected to said last named contact clip, means to secure said stationary contact and said last named contact clip to one of said body members, a second stationary contact, means to secure said second stationary contact to one of said body members, a switch plate loosely mounted in said body members, a switch contact pivoted in bearings depending from said plate and adapted to bridge said stationary contacts, a rocker handle secured to one of said body members adjacent its top, a spring interconnecting said rocker and said switch contact, means to connect conductors to said first mentioned contact clip and said second stationary contact located at one side oi. said body member, an opening communicating with the side of said body members adjacent said last named means for the passage of conductors, and means to secure said body members together.

4. In an electric switch, spaced contacts, a supporting plate having an opening therein and I angularly extending portions on each side 01' said opening, a handle having a part projecting through said opening, said handle being shaped to co-operate with said angularly extending portions to limit the movement thereof, spaced arms projecting from said plate on either side of the projecting portion of said handle, a switch blade journaled in said arms and arranged to co-operate with said contacts, and a spring connecting the switch blade and the projecting part-of said handle for moving the blade'with a snap action;

5. In an electric 'switch, a housing comprising complementary body members of insulating material, spaced contacts, a supporting plate having an opening therein and having angularly extending portions on either side of said opening, said angularly extending portions co-operating with said body member to loosely secure the plate therein, a handle projecting through said opening, said handle being shaped 'to co-operate with said angularly extending portions to limit the movement thereof, spaced arms projecting from said plate on either-side of the projecting portion of the handle, a switch blade journaled in said arms, and a spring connected between the blade and the projecting portion of the handle for moving the blade with a snap action.

GEORGE B. BENANDER. 

